City announces largest seizure of illegal guns in NYC history

On Monday, August 19, officials announced the largest seizure of illegal guns in New York City history.

An undercover investigation that removed hundreds of guns from local streets is the largest seizure of illegal firearms in New York City history, officials announced Monday.

The bust resulted in the indictment of 19 individuals and the removal of 254 guns, including high-capacity assault weapons, handguns and a fully automatic machine gun.

Those arrested were allegedly involved in trafficking the weapons from North Carolina and South Carolina into New York City, and have been charged with multiple counts of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal sale of a firearm, conspiracy and other related crimes, according to officials.

“New York is the safest big city in the nation, but year after year, illegal guns flow into our city from states that don’t have common-sense laws that keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “There is no doubt that the seizure of these guns – the largest bust in the city’s history – has saved lives.”

Half of the illegal guns seized by NYPD from traffickers in South & North Carolina, in arrests being announced today. pic.twitter.com/cwe3UKHMjU